I made a mistake explaining O3s to my boss’s boss. I focused on how building relationships in the team would help improve performance especially with a difficult team member. I tried to explain how once we got to a stage in our relationship where I could start introducing feedback we’d meet more team goals because we’d all be pulling in the same direction. I talked enthusiastically about how great Manager Tools is and the importance of introducing the Trinity slowly once the team members and relationships are ready. He didn’t get it. Of course why should he? He already thinks he has great relationships with his directs, why should I "waste" ½ hour each week in a meeting to build relationships. I guess I should have explained the O3s as a simple update on priorities and progress (and kept to myself that the priorities might be personal as well as work).
Partly as a result of my mistake and partly because of a reorg that was already under way I will go from being the line manager for the three members of staff to being a member of the team. I will keep the responsibility for ensuring the tasks my boss assigns get done by the team but I’ll no longer responsible for setting goals or doing the annual reviews for the team members. Can anybody recommend a podcast where Mike and Mark give tips on this situation? How do I assign tasks to the team members and what do I do when they just say no, or say yes but never do the work? I’m a control freak and know I’m going to be tempted to try doing all the work myself.
I loved the challenge of being a line manager and I think I got a little better at it each day once a friend told me about Manager Tools. From now on I’ll be focusing on the Career Tools podcasts so I can perform to my best in my new role and get promoted one day back to a management role.
I'm impressed!
Sounds like you've been put in a very tough situation - having responsibility without the authority - and are handling it in a very mature way! I'm not sure I could do the same.
As for how to get the work done without the role power, remember that relationships trump role power in terms of influence. The leader of a group isn't necessarily the one with the title - just the one the others will follow. Read the old classic "How to Win Friends and Influence People". I read it early in my career when I had no role power whatsoever, and it really helped me to have a positive influence on others and on the course of events.
Best of luck to you in your career. You'll go far!
Things to think about
Your post sounds so much like what I've been going through with one difference - I asked my boss if I can go from being a line manager back to being a member of the team after struggling for several months to gain my team members' respect following negative feedback from them on my year-end review. I've been doing the O3s and while my boss seems impressed with my efforts to improve, my team members remain recalcitrant and I remain unhappy. I feel I can give more value to the company as an individual contributor and my team can be happier and more productive with an experienced manager at the helm.
Give yourself and your team some time to get through this transition. Do your job in ensuring tasks are completed on time to the best of your ability. But recognize that the ultimate accountability for your peers' performance falls on their boss, not on you.
Take advantage of this change to focus on yourself for awhile - what do you really want in your career? Do you really want to be a manager? If yes, then focus on developing your management skills and continue utilizing Manager Tools as if your were still a manager. Maybe in the end you'll decide management is not for you. Personally I find managemet to be underpaid and undervalued. As a manager I've started to lose my skills as an analyst. Managers are easily replaceable. But as a skilled analyst I have a fair amount of security in the job market.
Like the previous post, I also commend your maturity in handling this situation. By taking the high road and handling this in a mature, professional and classy way, you'll gain the respect of your peers and your bosses.
Thanks for the positive comments
I agree this will give me an opportunity to focus on improving myself rather than worrying all the time about why I can't get the team to work together or how to handle a particularly troublesome direct. "How to Win Friends and Influence People" was also recommended by the same friend who told me about Manager Tools, clearly I need to read it!
I think good management is worthwhile and one day I'd like to be one of the good ones. Although being a manager also lead me to lose some of my analyst skills I felt that if I could get the team to work better we'd achieve so much more. I didn't have the skills to make it happen yet so that's something I can work on. You've shown me that I can choose to see this situation as an opportunity. I can put my energy back into doing well at the job that first made me want to join the company.
Your posts are really encouraging, thank you.